By J.N. Campbell
The Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will convene its annual training conference for specialists with a reception Sunday Feb. 26, 2023 in Tucson.
Hosted by the University of Arizona, which is home to the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the event brings together members from the U.S. and Canada, but also an international contingent of investigators and security personnel from Europe and South Africa that will participate in a series of sessions over the course of Monday Feb. 27 and Tuesday Feb. 28. A membership administrative meeting will take place Wednesday Mar. 1 before the conference adjourns. Organizers include, Chairman Juan C. Estrada of the Arizona Department of Gaming, and Vice-Chair Jason Klouser of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission.
This year's agenda once again includes a range of tradecraft subjects meant to satisfy the current “Points of Emphasis” from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP), which ensures ORI members have the opportunity to bolster their continuing education hours. Presentations include diverse topics such as regulatory oversight, barn surveillance, security employee retention, identifying fraudulent documents, the relationship between the investigator and the media, ethics in horse racing, medication warning signs, and a variety of regional case studies. Along with day sessions, ORI plans to honor members at a special dinner on Monday evening, which includes the John Wayne Lifetime Achievement Award, named for a longtime investigator who passed away in 2020. Robert Hartman, Chair of RTIP, will serve as a guest speaker, and Melissa Del Bosque, the author of Bloodlines: The True Story of a Drug Cartel, the FBI, and the Battle for a Horse-Racing Dynasty (2017) will deliver the keynote address.
Started in the 1990s, ORI brings together industry professionals who specialize in combating race fixing, horse doping, animal abuse and cruelty, money laundering, cybercrime, conspiracy, illegal pari-mutuel activity, and other infractions, as they cooperate with law enforcement agencies. They are employed by a variety of racetrack entities, including police, government, and private security firms. As a 501(c)(6) non-profit, ORI not only provides the opportunity for internal dialogue, but puts a strong emphasis on education and integrity in order to deter threats against racegoers, those on the backstretch and most importantly, the equine athletes.
Click here, for information regarding registration, hotel information, and the 2023 working agenda. For all media inquiries regarding the 2023 ORI Conference, please contact racinginvestogatormedia@gmail.com.
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